Melissa Sunshine Camp Launches Youth Respite

On Saturday, November 12th, non-profit Melissa’s Sunshine Camp will launch Sunshine Respite, a new service for youth with intellectual disabilities in the area.

Ormstown’s Une Affaire de Famille will host the effort, welcoming those aged five to 11 on Saturdays and those aged 12 to 17 on Sundays, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Every second Saturday evening of the month will be reserved for those over the age of 18.

According to MSC Special Education Technician Sonia Viau, the mission of Melissa's Sunshine Camp mission is to provide activities and respite services for persons with intellectual disabilities with or without autism (ASD). For the past two years, Melissa’s Sunshine Camp has been located at 24 York Street in Huntingdon. Open Monday to Friday, the center offers services and activities for clients aged 21 years and over, as a result of a partnership between the CSSS and HAECC. With 45 active members, the camp has been active since 1993. Originally founded by local Mary Shewchuk, the camp was previously hosted on the Shewchuk family farm in Hinchinbrooke, and is named for one of Mary’s daughters, Melissa—who is still a very active member of MSC.

As for the non-profit’s new effort, Sunshine Respite, Viau points out that, at the moment, there is no such respite service in the Haut-Saint-Laurent territory. “Families need this respite time and children need to integrate and have fun, other than the time spent in school,” says Viau. “During these activity days, clients will learn special ways to socialize and to express themselves through dance, mimes, music, art expression, painting, sculpting, collage and other activities.” Expansion is not always easy, so the camp has taken on other partners in order to ensure that this new endeavor is a success, including Respit Zephyr, Une Affaire Famille, the CISSS of the Monteregie-Ouest and Fonds de Développement des Territoires.

 Please note that the organization is currently recruiting families that require this service and is looking for qualified employees to organize and ensure the effective organization of this project. For any questions, please contact the organization at 450-264-6340 or via email at melissasunshinecamp@gmail.com. For further information, visit their website at http://campsoleildemelissa.weebly.com.